Advance Australian Film

Streaming video - 2015

"Rich, provocative and essential viewing for anyone who values Australian stories” - Steve Dow, The Guardian. Advance Australian Film is an investigative, thought-provoking documentary that explores the inner-workings of the Australian film industry, celebrating some of our key successes and examining the changes occurring across the global filmmaking landscape - with crowdfunding social media marketing and video-on-demand platforms empowering filmmakers like never before and changing the way movies are being produced and accessed. The film charts the history of Australian Cinema, beginning with the world's first feature film, The Story of the Ned Kelly Gang and chronicles its development to the present day. During the 1980s and... 1990s, the industry produced an array of crowd-pleasing classics such as Crocodile Dundee, Strictly Ballroom, Muriel’s Wedding and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. But since then, the industry has been suffering from a steady decline. For the past decade, Australian films have consistently grossed under 5% of annual box office revenues, taking in a dismal 2.5% share for 2014 - the second lowest figure since 1977. Emerging independent filmmaker, Courtney Dawson has experienced first hand just how hard it is to get a film off the ground in Australia. She talks with Australia’s film heroes and movie greats including David Stratton (At the Movies), PJ Hogan (Muriel’s Wedding), Kriv Stenders (Red Dog), Emile Sherman (King’s Speech) and conducts red carpet interviews with some of the world’s biggest stars including Russell Crowe, Joel Edergton, Baz Luhrmann, Matt Damon and Carey Mulligan. She also undertakes in-depth discussions with top industry professionals including film historians, distributors, publicists, media teachers and producers. Dawson gives us informative facts and some hard-hitting answers which encourages hope for a new climate of optimism and reconnection with audiences. It's time to Advance Australian Film. Join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter. "Intelligent, brutally honest, but also hopeful" - Sally Knight, ABC Radio. “An important examination of the Australian film industry. Powerful and inspiring” - Video & Filmmaker Magazine. more